SEELEY LAKE – "When we toss these caps and hang up these robes, we will leave this place behind and find our own way," said Salutatorian Ella Batchelder highlighting the different paths she and her classmates will pursue following graduation. "We are resilient. We are the class that was born during 9-11, started sophomore year evacuated from our homes in the smoke of the Rice Ridge Fire and finished our schooling in Seeley Lake during a pandemic. We've got this."
Adaptable, resilient, confident and encouraging were all words used to describe Seeley-Swan High School's Class of 2020. While the SSHS gymnasium is usually packed with family, friends and members of the community supporting the graduates, Valedictorian Sam Weisenburger described to a video camera that this year as a "somewhat anticlimactic end to the Class of 2020's four years of high school." This year many watched the ceremony broadcasted live by MCAT as the graduates walked in wearing masks and sat with their five guests. All the speeches were pre-recorded and the hand shakes and hugs were taboo.
"As I stand in this empty gym please know my classmates and I still see all of you and are grateful for all you have done in this special, beautiful place," said Batchelder.
With everything turned upside down the last three months of their senior year missing senior prom, the last track and field season, concerts and other gatherings and pioneering the path of distance learning with their teachers, Valedictorian Sam Weisenburger expressed gratitude to the teachers and staff that made the graduation ceremony possible.
"What will define our class is not what we have already gone through, but what we have yet to bring about," said Weisenburger. "Years from now, when we look back, we will understand those obstacles were insignificant compared to the landmark of graduation and the beginning of our independent lives."
This year's graduation speaker was James "Jim" Kenney. Kenney is the father-in-law of SSHS English teacher Lori Messenger and U.S. Marine Corp Vietnam veteran. He has been a guest speaker in the juniors' American Studies class after they read "The Things They Carried," by Tim O'Brien. He shared stories of being drafted at 19, fighting in Vietnam and wrestling with the unanswered question, why was he fighting. He made a special connection with this class and they invited him to be the guest speaker at their graduation.
Kenney encouraged the seniors to pursue what makes them come alive.
"You have learned that the diploma is like an instrument that you can use to open doors," said Kenney in his recorded speech. "Use it to do what makes you come alive. That is what you and our world needs."
Kenney offered three points of advice to the class.
• Reach for the stars. "That is a long reach so you better get a ladder," but keep trying.
• Strive to change the world but spend a day fishing or making cookies with a grandparent. "They may have some thoughts about what to change."
• Use common sense, "As for many people, that would be uncommon."
"Today marks a beginning just as much as an end," said Weisenburger. "At Seeley-Swan we have made mistakes, learned lessons and developed into our own persons. Going forward it is time to take that experience and put it to the test in the real world without a safety net. Today, being the graduation of the distinguished class of 2020, above all else marks the beginning of our search for what is the greatest virtue of all, self leadership."
The video of the speeches and senior slideshow produced by senior Blake Lindemer is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpDZBjXJwUQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2pPVJypgGNhXQSDAW2LXFz7tk483iOqqe2RoBnlRBM6lq12QH_MfO3n9M
Senior awards and scholarships
SEELEY LAKE – This year’s Seeley-Swan High School seniors received several scholarships and honors. While some have yet to be awarded, this is the list as of June 1.
Seven students received their honor cords for National Honor Society. Their membership is based on academic excellence maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher, citizenship, leadership and service. National Honor Society members include: Ashly Alexander, Ella Batchelder, Terra Bertsch, Kara Good, Jayla Kauffman, Blake Lindemer and Sam Weisenburger. Batchelder, Bertsch, Good and Weisenburger were also recognized for holding a 4.0 grade point average.
This year scholarship recipients includes:
Ashly Alexander: Utah State University Eastern Scholarship, $15,000
Jayla Kauffman: Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship $12,686; Samuel H. Bennion Scholarship $600; Freshman Leadership Scholarship $400; Housing Scholarship $1,000; Band Scholarship $1,500; Lions Club Community Service Scholarship $1,000; Anonymous Donor Scholarship $1,000 per year four years and the Carey Kanavel Scholarship $350
Kara Good: Montana States Premier Scholarship $1,200; Montana’s STEM Scholarship $500 a semester Year 1, $1,500/semester (Year 2 and 3), $2,000/semester (Year 4); Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Scholarship, $250; Lions Club Kimble Family Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Cliff Nelson Memorial Scholarship, $400
Sam Weisenburger: The Ohio State University Maximus Scholarship, $12,000 over four years (declined); National Buckeye Scholarship $54,000 over four years (declined); Arizona State University: Presidents Award $12,000 over four years (declined); United States Military Academy at West Point four year education and training valued at $450,000 (accepted)
Melina Davis: Linda Duncan Memorial Scholarship, $100
Terra Bertsch: Seeley Lake Lions Club, $250
Dakota Wood: Seeley Lake Lions Club, $250
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